Bowl control for carry type scrapers



Sept. 4, 1951 L. T. MCGEE 2,566,901

BOWL CONTROL FOR CARRY TYPE SCRAPERS Filed Feb. 28, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 a'r'g A b am mmvrox.

Sept. 4, 195] L. T. MGGEE BOWL CONTROL FOR CARRY TYPE SCRAPERS Filed Feb. 28, 1947 4 sheets sheet 2 Sept. 4, 1951 L. T. M GEE BOWL CONTROL FOR CARRY TYPE SCRAPERS Filed Feb. 28. 1947 4 Sheets-Sheetfi INVENTOR.

1951 L. T. MCGEE BOWL CONTROL FOR CARRY TYPE SCRAPERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 28, 1947 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED rss PATENT: OFFICE BOWL CONTROL FOR CARRY TYPE SCRAPERS Claims.

My invention relates to dirt scrapers, and particularly to dirt scrapers of the type usually operated by power tractors, and which are capable of" scraping up a load of dirt, hauling it a distance, as pulled by said tractor, dumping it at the will of the operator of said tractor, and also spreading said dirt as it is dumped over an area at diiierent depths by adjusting the scraper bowl upwardly in its dumping position, and of being returned again to the scraping and loading position, and all controlled by the operator of the tractor by a single, manually manipulated control lever, in a single fluid line, whereby hydraulic fluid is directed into rams where it can be locked or released at will to move or to hold, or to release. said scraper.

Among the salient objects of my invention, in addition to the above-mentioned functions and advantages are: To provide a dirt scraper of the typereferred to in which there is a movably supported bowl, with a plurality of supporting and moving levers, pivotally connected therewith, at different points on the opposite sides of said bowl, whereby said bowl can be bodily moved from loading to carrying, or dumping positions, While at the same time being pivotally held and operated by said levers by means of hydraulic power applied to said levers; to provide in a dirtscr'aper of the character referred to hydraulic power means for positively moving said supporting and operating levers and said bowl in one direction, while permitting gravity to return said levers and said bowl to the different intermediate positions; to provide in connection therewith an automatically controlled valve mechanism which is operated by the movement of the scraper bowl, said bowl and said valve mechanism being connected and timed to work together.

Other advantages of'the invention will appear from the following detailed description of one practicalembodiment thereof shown on the accompanying four sheets of drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a dirt scraper embodying my invention. looking down into the bowl, and showing the rear end of a tractor, and showing the rear end of the scraper frame andwheels broken away to reduce the size of the figure;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the invention showing the scraper bowl in the digging or loading position;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the bowl raised to the carrying position;

Figure 4, is a similar View showing the scraper bowl in the dumping position and being held for spreading the dirt in a thin layer over an area;

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the scraper bowl raised a little higher than the position shownijn Fig; .4, for spreading the dirt'in a thicker layer over an area;

Figure 6 is as'imilar view showing the scraper bowl raised to its'up'per limit and from which it can be lowered again to the digging or loading position, as shown in Fig. 2;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of the mechanism shown in Fig; 4, showing the opposite side thereof to show the pipe connections;

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are vertical sectional views all taken on the line 8-8 on Fig. 1, showing different positions of the valve in the hydraulic control mechanism;

Figure 11 is afragmentary'sectional view taken on the line l|l It through the top of Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view'ta'ken on line l2--l2, Fig. 2;

Fig; 13 1s a sectionalv view taken on line l3--l3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 14' is a sectional view taken on line I4 l4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 15' is a sectional view' taken on line l5--l 5, Fig. 6';

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on line 16-4 6, Fig. 6; and

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on line Il-ll, V

Fig. IB.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, a scraper frame isshown, including two side members 20, 20; connectedat their forward ends by a cross member 2!, shown in tubular are connected by a second cross member 23,

of a coupli'ngrod 30; as seen in Fig. 3, while the forward end of said coupling rod is connected in the same manner with a depending member 3!, on the rearof' the tractor, as seen in Fig. and shown in sectionin Fig. 13. Thus by means of the members 2 2, 23, and the rod 30, the scraper frame is capable of being coupled to a power tractor, as illustrated" in said Figs. 1 and 2.

Mounted upon the'side members 20, 2|], and

rigid therewith, are two pairs-of upstanding sup porting" brackets 32, 32, and 33, 33, ofdifferent heights, as will be seen in Figs; 2 and 3. These support the pivoted ends of two pairs of arms or levers, 34, 34, and 35', 35, whicharms or loversare pivotally connected at their free ends with a scraper bowl'B. Thearms orlevers- 34, 34, are pivotally connected with the bowlB at its lower, forward, oppositesides, asat 34', 34", and at their upper ends, said levers are slotted, as at 35, and are pivotally and slidably connected with the forward supporting brackets 32, 32, as clearly indicated in the side views. The arms or levers 35, 35, are pivotally connected at their free ends with the opposite sides of said bowl B, as at 35, and at their opposite ends said levers 35, 35, are pivotally connected with the-upper ends of the rearward supporting brackets 33, 33, by means of a cross rod 31, to which said arms are rigidly connected, and as seen in Fig. 1, one end of said rod 31, carrying thereon, outside of the supporting bracket 33, a depending plate 38, Figs. 8, 9 and 10, having therein a slot 38' operating over a pin or stud 39, in the end of said rod 31. The ends of said cross rod 31 have collars, as 31', welded or otherwise secured thereto, with a bushing 40 within the supporting bracket 33, as indicated in Fig. 11.

Pivotally connected to the opposite sides of the front of the scraper bowl B, by the arms 4|, 4|, is an apron 42, having connected therewith a chain 43, the upper end of which is adjustably connected to the upper end of the A-frame 22, as indicated at 44, on a finger.

Said pivoted apron is adjusted to different positions relative to the open front of the scraper bowl by the movement of the bowl, as will be understood by the different positions thereof in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive, being held above the opening into the bowl in loading position, as in Fig. 2.

while closing said opening to the bowl in the carrying position, as seen in Fig. 3, and being held out of the way in the loading, unloading and leveling positions, as in Figs. 4 and 5.

' I will now describe the hydraulic mechanism by which said bowl is moved to the different positions indicated in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive. I

Two cylinders, as 45, are connected pivotally with the two arms or levers 35, 35, at opposite sides of the bowl, intermediate the ends of said levers, as at 46, said cylinders or tubes having telescoping therein tubes as 41, the outer ends of which are connected, as at 43, with a supply pipe. 49, leading through the side member 20, along said side member 20, to the forward end of the frame into the cross member 2| and up to the upper end of the A-frame 22, as seen in Fig. 14, where it is connected with the flexible tube 50, from the supply pump on the tractor. This pump is standard equipment on tractors of this character and it has a va1ve,control mechanism, as at 5|, for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to the tube 5!), and thence through pipe 49, as will be understood. It will be understood also that the supply pipe 49, extending rearwardly along the side member 29, as seen in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, also extends through said member 20, and across to the other side, as at 49', for connection with the other tube 41, operating the other cylinder or tube 45, for simultaneous operation of these members on the arms or levers 35, 35. By reference to Fig. 16, we have shown these telescoping tubes 45 and 41 in enlarged sectional view. From the pivot head 52, pivoted at 52, supported in a depending bracket 53, one at each side of the frame, are two connecting straps as 54, 54, rigid with said pivot head, and at their opposite ends having a ring 55, around the end of the outer cylinder or tube 45, as seen in Fig. 16, to act as a stop for the tube 45, as it is forced outwardly on the inner tube, said tube 45 havness. these straps 54, 54 are not shown in the assembled showing in Figs. 1-6.

Thus it will be seen that the hydraulic fluid forced through the tube 50, pipes 49 and 49', to the connections at 48, at opposite sides of the frame, will operate to force the cylinder or tube 45, on each side of the frame, upwardly, and as these are connected with the levers 35, 35, which are connected with the opposite sides of the bowl,

as at 35, said bowl will be moved from the position shown in Fig. 2, to the position shown in Fig. 3, the other end of said bowl being also forced to its position in Fig. 3, by the other pair of cylinders, now to be described.

Connected with the levers 34, 34, intermediate their ends, as at 55', are plungers 56, operating in cylinders, as 51, pivotally connected and supported in depending brackets, as 58, on the undersides of the side members 20, 20, as seen in Figs 2 to 6, inclusive.

Said plunger and cylinder are shown in sectional viewin Fig. 15, and the mountings or connections are similar to the connections in Fig. 16, except in the structure shown in Fig. 15, there is a plunger rod 55 operating in the cylinder or tube 51, instead of an outer tube or cylinder moving over the inner tube, as shown, The pivot head 59, in the bracket 58, is connected rigidly with the cylinder or tube 51, as indicated and pivotal movement is permitted at this point, while the plunger rod 53 is connected pivotally with the lever 34, as at 55', and as said plunger rod 56 is forced outwardly it moves said lever 34, and this end of the scraper bowl B therewith from the position shown in Fig. 2, to the position shown in Fig. 3.. It will be understood that this mechanism is the same on both sides of the scraper bowl.

In Fig. 15, side straps, as 56, 56' are shown connecting the pivot head 55", to which they are welded, to a stop ring 51' around the tube 51. These straps are not shown in Figs. l-6.

The hydraulic fluid for operating the plungers and moving the scraper bowl to its various positions is supplied from the pump mechanism on the tractor, standard equipment, and is controlled by the valve mechanism thereon, designated 5|. Fig. 2. This fluid is directed through the tube 50 to the pipe 49, extended along the side of the frame member 20 and at the rearward end thereof, inserted through said side member 20 and extended across said frame to the opposite side, as seen in Fig. 1, with the extensions, as 49, 49, to connect it with the two cylinders or tubes 41, 47, as at 48. 7

Thus it will be noted that a single oil or hydraulic fluid line from the tractor controls all of the movements necessary in operating the scraper; By the single valve 5|, on the tractor pump, the hydraulic fluid is forced into the different rams or cylinders, or is locked therein, or is released to return from the rams or cylinders to the pump. In other words, by a single control valve, the operating fluid can be directed into the rams or cylinders which positively move the levers supporting the scraper bowl and thereby move the bowl into its difierent nositions, and when said bowl has been moved-to its unloading and spreading position, it must complete its moved up and down for various cuts in loading,

or up and down for difierent heights for spreading, but once in the spreading position, it must complete its cycle in order to return by gravity to a digging or loading position.

From the pipe 49, from the pump or control valve 5|, is a branch pipe 60 extended to and anc or connected with a valve boasl asus'een in Figs.

8;9 an'd through whichlluid is tlirected, con troll'e'cl by a ball valve 52; m'ov'edby a spring 521; and which fluid is di-i'e tedfoutzthrough. a pipe' t syto tube 6s; by WhlCh-l .is connected with the bracket 5B the coupling hea'd EQ; .a'ssshown.

The pipe 'fifl the valveloox 6 1*, atthe side; of thefi'ame 28 has anlext'en'sion; 63. extended: through said'l siiie member: andia'oross to the? opposite side .of the frame. structure: for connection l with r the; cylinder; or: tube; 517 at: the opposite: e ofthe scraperbowlafloin the-same manner as.

35; secured? thereto; whereby; said shaft 3,"!v is, turnedi by. said, armstas they are. movedto movethe scraper bowl, by therplungersAE-l, before described;

Thus-lit will be understoodthat the movement of the scrapenbowLbythe arms 35,35, which are secured. to said. shaft. 31, operates; said. plate. or member 33. to opensaid ball valve 62 against. the tension of1 its spring 62.. I Said member 38. is moved by the-pin. or stud 39 inthe end of said shaft. 31,.asseen in. Fig. 10. In Fig.3 the valve isopen andlthepre'ssure in pipes Mend. 53 and in said valve box. 5! is equalized. if. turned. on at. the control. valve 515cm the pumping ineohanismonthe traotor,.or, if said controljvalve is set at. neutral, the. oil. or. hydraulic fill'idl" is IoQked andthere isno bowl movement. If the valve 51 is moved. to its opposite extreme, said hydraulic. fluid. can beffircedba'ck through said valveby. the. gravity-movement of the bowl and its connections to the. pl'ungjers andthe cylinders or tubes which operateto move said bowl. The weight ofth'e scraper bowl and leversca'uses the ret ofjth'e hydraulic fluid to the pump'orres ervoir therefor,.allowihgqthe scraper bowl to; move by gravity to the position in Fig; 2; In other words, it will be. understood that the two' ends valve box connected at its oppositesides with thesupplypipes ill and-63, with-a valveliii'; normally held closed by spring 51*. ates automatically.- should pressure become too great in cylinders or tubes 51, 51, when the scraper bowl is in the dumping and leveling or spreading positions, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The pressure then would escape through the safety valve 65 into the other pipe 60.

Thus I have rovided in connection with a power scraper of the character shown and described, power means connected. with supportin z levers, and have shown how the scraper bowl This opercan. be moved' into the: difierent operating" positions by applying pow'ento the. supportingwleverss for, said bowl; said power being applied to said; levers intermediate their: ends; thus functioning: after a. lever of thethirdclass ororder.

power is applied to the. lovers in pairs; the scraper bowl is moved at its-opposite ends; one

pair of levers operating ontherearwardend of the-scraper. bow-Land another pair of: levers ope ",rating; at opposite-sides ofzsaicl'bowl at its for:- vard end. The scraper'bowl returns to its-downposition-by gravity when the power is released; as

hereinbeforedescribed: The; diiierent positions.

ofth'e: scraper bowl are illustratedin the different views, asdescribed.

Use and operation- Th'euse ancl'operation of the invention may bei briefly describedas follows:

Referring. to Fig. 2; the control vallve.5 l, on the tractor, is shown in the neutral position;

which looks the oil in the pipes and cylinders and prevents its being returned to the reservoir from which it was pumped. Said control lever was moved to this neutral position after the scraperhowl had been allowed'to moveby gravity into this down or loading position while said.

lever 5| was in its forward or releasing position. Referring also to Fig. 8, the valve 62 is-also shownheld in its open position by. the plate 38, which is oath-e shaft 31', and turned by said scraper bowl, as. it moves. valve 132 permits the oil to flow freely between pipestlli and 63 as said: bowl moves by gravity to the position shovvnin Fig. 2.

In Fig. 2, assuming that the scraper bowl is loaded and it is desired to move it to the carrying position shown in Fig. 3, this is accomplished. by moving the control lever 51 backwardly tothe operating or pumping position; This forces oil through the line eiltothe cylinders Stand connected with the supporting levers 34 and 35" of the bowl, thus raising-said scraper bowl to the carrying position, as shown in Fig. 3. Also at permitit to beclos'ed by it's spring t2"; asseen in Fig. 10.

During the carrying position or the scraper bowl, control valve 5| is in a netural orlocking position forth'e fuel line.

When it is desired to dump the load from the scraperbo'wl, the control-valve 5| is move'clrearwardly" to the operating or pum ing position,

above a line from pivot point 3413'0 the shaft 31 on which the valveeperating plate 38 is mounted, then the front end of theb'owl falls down; around pivot support 35", to-the position-shown in Fig; 4, which is'a spreading position, as'the dirt is being discharged from the bowl in its tilted position. While this is taking place, the 'oil in thecylihcle'ffil; which is smallenthan cylinder 45; is

semeforced out mte the meet and, into-eylmaer as; which resists in allowing the bbwl to swin m the spreading osition-shown in Fig; 4. "IhlSiS the first s reading position; spreading a layelibf dirt overhhearea.

As the.

This, position. of said egscaooi Should it be desired to spread the dirt in a heavier layer, the control lever is moved back into operating or pumping position to open the way for oil to be pumped. into cylinder 45, which raises lever 35 and the scraper bowl to a higher Position. This is permitted by the slots 36, in the upper ends of levers 34, at opposite sides of the bowl. Cylinders 51, at opposite sides of the machine, in the position shown in Fig. 5, operate as stops to prevent the lower end of the bowl from moving further backward.

In this dumping position, the ball valve 62, Fig. 10, has closed the passageway from line 66 to line 63. This, in a way, makes an automatic regulator in that the oil pressure in line 63 builds up sufficiently to move cylinder 45 to the limit of its stroke. Ball valve 62, being closed, prevents the oil from passing into cylinder 51, until cylinder 45 has reached the limit of its stroke, whereupon the pressure in line 60 rises to a Point where it forces said valve 62 open and allows the oil to be forced through line 63 to cylinder 51, and move it to the end of its stroke, which brings the bowl from the dumping position in Fig. 5, to its uppermost position shown in Fig. 6.

When the control lever H is moved forwardly to release the oil, the oil is prevented from returning from 51 by the ball valve 62, but is allowed to return from cylinder 45, which permits lever 35, and the end of scraper bowl to lower to the position shown in Fig. 3. At this stage of the operation, the valve mechanism 6|, has been operated by shaft 31 and plate 38, to open the valve 62 to permit the oil to flow freely out of both cylinders 51 and 45, and the bowl to move to the position shown in Fig. 2.

By moving the control valve 5| backwardly to the operating or--' pumping position, oil can be forced through line 50 to the cylinders 51 and 45, and through their lever connections said bowl and its load is raised to the position shown in Fig. 3. whichis the carrying position.

Thus with this construction and arrangement, with a single fuel line and a single control valve, said scraper bowl can be moved to the different positions described, and allowed to return by gravity, and while changes in details can be made within the spirit of the invention, I do not limit the invention to the showing made, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a dirt scraper: a supporting frame withcarrier wheels, a scraper bowl pivotally .supported in said frame by levers, there being two levers between the opposite sides of said frame and the opposite sides of said scraper bowl toward its rearward end, and two leversbetween the opposite sides of said frame and the opposite sides of said bowl toward its forward end, power means operatively connected with said first mentioned levers intermediate their pivotally attached ends for moving the rearward end of said bowl, power means operatively connected with said secondly mentioned levers intermediate their pivotally attached ends for moving the forward end of said bowl, and means for controlling the application of said power means to said bowl supporting levers to move and tilt said bowl in its operation.

2. In a dirt scraper, a carrier frame with wheels at its rearward end and hitching means at its forward end, a scraper bowl movably supported in said frame by means of two pairs of pivoted levers between said carrier frame at opposite sides thereof and the opposite sides of said bowl forwardly and rearwardly thereof, hydraulically operated plungers at opposite sides of said frame with means for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid thereto, said plungers being operatively connected at their outer ends with said pivoted supporting levers for said scraper bowl, intermediate their pivotally connected ends, for moving said bowl bodily at its opposite ends, said controlling means being releasable to permit said bowl to move downwardly by gravity.

3. In a dirt scraper, a carrier frame having carrier wheels, said frame having supporting standards on its top, spaced forwardly and rearwardly on said frame, a scraper bowl movably supported in said frame, two supporting levers on each side of said bowl, pivotally connected at one end to said supporting standards and at their other ends to the side of said bowl forwardly and rearwardly thereof, two pairs of hydraulic cylinders and plungers, one pair at each side of said bow1,'the outer ends of said plungers being pivotally connected with said supporting levers for said bowl, between their pivoted ends, and control valves for controlling hydraulic fluid to said cylinders for moving said levers by the application of power thereto between their pivoted ends.

4. A dirt scraper including a carrier frame with carrier wheels therefor and hitching means for coupling it to a power vehicle, a scraper bowl movably supported in said frame by two pairs of pivoted levers interposed between said frame and the opposite sides of said bowl, hydraulic power means at opposite sides of said bowl in said frame and including two pairs of hydraulically operated plungers, a plunger being connected at its outer end with each pivoted lever, between its pivotally connected ends, pipes for conveying hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic power means from a source of supply, valves interposed in said pipe lines for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid, and means operated by the movement of said scraper bowl for operating one of said valves to release said hydraulic power and permit said scraper bowl to move by gravity to its down position.

5. A dirt scraper including a carrier frame with carrier wheels therefor and hitching means for coupling it to a power tractor, a scraper bowl supported in said frame for bodily movement to different operating positions, said bowl being supported by a pair of levers at each side thereof, said levers being pivotally connected-at their anchored ends to the side of saidframe, and at their free ends to the sides of said bowl forwardly and rearwardly thereof, hydraulically operated plungers, one for each Of said levers,

connected therewith between its pivotally con-.

nected ends, to apply power thereto after the manner of a lever of the third class, means for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to said hydraulically operated plungers, and valve means with operating connections from said scraper bowl for operating one of said valve means by the movement of said scraper bowl to release said hydraulic fluid to permit said scraper bowl to move by gravity to its digging position.

LELAND T. MCGEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I Name Date 2,111,134 Allin Mar. 1 5, 1938 

